The Phoenix Hawk PXH-1 is a Medium-class 'Mech in Battletech: Heavy Metal.
Description[ | ]
Mobile and agile, the Phoenix Hawk is a dangerous machine that can easily run white-hot with all of its energy weapons and jump-jets. Its built-in Vectored Thrust Kits make clear its purpose as a specialized jump machine -- just be careful of that heat buildup.
The PXH-1 is a 45 ton medium mech that has 7.19 tons available after full armor or 19 tons with no armor. Its structural hit points and armor are equivalent to the Blackjack BJ-1 and Vindicator VND-1AA, 376 structure and 945 armor at full. The Phoenix Hawk PXH-1 can equip six jump jets and has a total of two Vectored Thrust Kits, one mounted on the right and left torsos. The Vectored Thrust Kit function as jump jets in addition to providing 10% increased jump distance as well as 10% increased attack damage after jumping, combining the two should give a total of 20% increased jump distance and 20% increased damage after jumping.
Loadouts[ | ]
With only 7-odd tons of space at max armor, the Phoenix Hawk's potential loadouts are sharply limited. Dropping the Large Laser will be necessary to get full armor on the 'mech -- replacing this with a third Medium Laser will reduce its flexibility but increase its survivability.
Strategy[ | ]
Yang's Thoughts: The PXH-1 is one of the most elegant and agile ‘Mechs around, boasting good armor and decent weapons. Sadly, its heat build-up is also noteworthy. Savvy MechWarriors take advantage of this ‘Mech’s jump capability to land timely shots and then reposition to another vantage point.
The Phoenix Hawk can be thought of as a direct upgrade to the Spider which the campaign starts with, and a proper introduction to "jumpjet backstab" gameplay. Its bonus to damage after jumping strongly encourages it to be used in this manner: jumping behind an enemy and unleashing a full alpha strike on their weaker rear armor, before jumping away to cool down. This is brutally effective at coring out opponents, and reaches its peak with the later Grasshopper heavy mech; the Phoenix Hawk can't match the Grasshopper's alpha capacity or survivability, but can move faster, farther, and sooner in the initiative order.
